July 18th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

In West Virginia, babies of Black mothers are dying at higher rates in childbirth compared to white infants. Experts say the lack of access to healthcare for people of color is likely the cause. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control, the state’s white infant mortality rate was 6.8 deaths per 1,000 births while the Black infant mortality rate was more than 13 deaths per 1,000 births. The figures are from 2014 to 2017. Health Policy Analyst with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy Rhonda Rogombe calls them "alarming."

In 2019, the uninsured rate among Black West Virginians topped 10-percent – two percentage points higher than the white uninsured rate. And in several rural counties, the rate surpassed 20-percent. Rogombe adds even with health insurance, many rural residents lack healthcare providers in their communities.